KL University Commemorates National Technology Day With a Lecture on India's Advancement in Nuclear Science
To celebrate National Technology Day, KL Deemed to be University organized a lecture titled Bharat’s Journey in Nuclear Science — From Scientific Excellence To Social Impact, on their Vijayawada campus. This lecture was made in collaboration with Vijnana Bharati, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, as a part of the My Bharat initiative. Approximately 350 faculty staff and research gathered to witness a confluence of eminent academicians, scientists, and university leaders on the campus devoted to the culture of science and innovative activism.
The session was spearheaded by Dr. B. Venkataraman, ex-Director of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, who spoke on India’s nuclear breakthroughs. He spoke about the significance of local research and innovation in enhancing the country's strategic growth and self-reliance. This gave the participants an understanding of the decades of work and investment of India in the Nuclear Energy and Research domain and how it influences the global standing of India in the Nuclear research and energy domain.
The ceremony of Jyothi Prajwalan, done by the dignitaries, was used to symbolize the lighting of the beacon of knowledge and scientific prosperity. This ceremony integrated the milestones achieved in India’s scientific domain with the aspirations of the current cohort of researchers and educators.
A Platform for Scientific Awareness, Research Engagement, and National Pride
Almost 350 scholars and educators attending the same academic event is a strong sign of commitment by the organizer. Each year, India observes National Technology Day on May 11 to remember its first Pokhran nuclear test in 1998, and to honor the greater community of scientists and technologists in the country. By choosing to anchor the day’s program on nuclear technology, KL University scholars were privileged to gain access to one of India’s best examples of a self-sustained scientific community.
The program included more than one address. The event motivated participants, not only in the field of nuclear technology, but also toward promoting an innovation-oriented and research-centric culture within the academic community. During the session, participants had the advantage of understanding the mind of a scientist who spent a significant part of his career at one of the country's research institutes of atomic science and technology.
IGCAR, Kalpakkam, where Dr. Venkataraman served as Director, is one of the country’s principal research facilities of the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, focusing on fast breeder reactor technology and materials science. Having a former director of this institution in direct engagement with university scholars is a rare example and many academic calendars cannot offer this type of engagement.
Honorary Mentions: Values
There were many special attendees from academia and science for the event, with dignitaries like Dr. K. S. Jagannatharao, Dr. BTP Madhav, Shri K. S. Sastry, and Dr. K. Subrahmanyam. The event had both the spirit and the motivation of the next generation of researchers, with institutional backing for the recognition of past work.
While on the platform, Dr. K. S. Jagannatha Rao, the Pro Chancellor of KL University, explained what National Technology Day can mean for the education sector. He emphasised "National Technology Day urges us to remember the alchemy of science and excellence, and the persistence of society. At our university, we emphasise creativity and productivity with a research-based orientation of technology, along with a zeal for nation-building."
He brought attention to the key concern of most researchers and students in Indian universities: the dichotomy of academic research and practice. Dr Jagannatha Rao's words expressed the direct connection of the research-based culture of the university with the priorities of developing the nation, and signalled that KL University was determined to pursue the larger vision for science and society of India in addition to the traditional teaching role of a university.
What This Event Signals for Students and the Research Community
University leadership stated that events of this type represent KLU’s commitment to integrating academia and research with national development priorities. The primary mechanism mentioned was the integration of students and academicians with eminent scientists, innovators, and thought leaders from all parts of the country. This mechanism of integrating practioners into academia and breaking knowledge suppression in laboratories and journals, helps students and research scholars gain knowledge that cannot be obtained through formal education.
For science, engineering, and research students at KL University, the National Technology Day lecture, among other activities, helps in establishing a direct relationship with institutions and professionals that are at the helm of science in India. The promotion of this event through Vijnana Bharati, a science movement with a substantial presence in India and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, My Bharat, is a step towards integrating the event beyond the university premises. This places the university within the framework of a national discourse towards science, self-reliance, and the research community’s social responsibility. Students interested in nuclear science, energy policy, and research in the strategic sectors of India will find this networking invaluable.
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